A Pieceful Life - Part 12 - End of Autobiography

One time a representative of various magazines; as chatelaine, McLean or whatever their names, came to our place offering many magazines in trade for the chickens. So mother with the girls agreed to this deal, and led him to a chicken coup where he picked about a dozen of the best chickens, catching them easily by a long wire hook. I wasn't home at that time, and when I came home, they boasted with their deal. I asked him if he gave you any assurance as receipt, that you will get those papers. Well he did not give them anything, and they didn't know who he was, so they never saw those magazines but were short of a dozen of chickens.

Later I bought an upright piano in Saskatoon for $65.00 (of course secondhand) and hired my nephew Bill Shakotko with a truck, to bring it home. After loading it onto the truck, and on the way home, we stopped in front of Russian-Ukrainian storekeeper to buy the things we needed. He offered a salted herrings he had about dozen of one gallon tin cans, and said if they will be good you will pay me later $.25 for each can. So we took them and loaded on the truck and started our way homeward. On reaching home in the evening, we unloaded the piano and Bill drove home taking with him some of that cans of herrings. I don't know what he'd done with his hearings, but I left mine outside on the ground overnight. The next day when sun was shining on the tin cans, so from the heat of the sun, tin gallon cans with herrings exploded or burst open and I had thrown them to a pig pan and forgot about them.

After a couple days my wife ran breathlessly to me, saying our chickens are sick; they are sitting everywhere in a yard and in the chicken coop with their mouths open, so look in the book, what kind of a poultry disease is this and what to do. Well I did, but found nothing certain but similar; and it said some kind of cholera, and the treatment a salty water. Then I remembered about the herrings and ran to a pig pan, and sure enough they were still there, as pigs were wiser than chickens, they did not eat them, but chickens were nibbling or pecking with their beaks at the herrings. The result of it: dead chickens, and mostly young ones. As it was haying time just before harvest, so when I bring a load of hay to the yard, and from the yard I throw the dead chickens on the hay rack and take them away someplace. So those salty spoil herrings, robbed us of our chickens, especially my wife's toil, raising and caring for them at spring and summer and then all in vain. That storekeeper never mentioned about the price for these herrings. Seems he was glad that he found somebody that took them out of his store, otherwise he had to hire somebody to get rid of them.

Now looking back at the years, when the children were at home yet we had a joyous time, as the house was full of music and singing, and oldest daughter Vera has learned to play on organ and piano, and the younger two daughters learned from her. Such joyous periods, comes only once in a lifetime and the replacement of them follows joyless time, when children are getting grown up and says: goodbye to you leaving home and old folks, to sing themselves the sad songs now.

This was the period for cultivating the land by horsepower yet. During these years, besides the home raised horses, I bought nine of them, paying from 75-$90 dollars per head. Because some have died from various reasons; or the age, sleeping sickness, urinary troubles, after drinking cold water after being perspired. One gelding died after unsuccessful castration by my brother, using old method splints. One mare while grazing in a ravine stuck into sinking mud up to her belly. Nick Lupish while working at my brother's place saw the situation of my mare, and they both tried to pull her out by the horse, tying a rope to the tail of mare. Result! They didn't pull her out, but pulled out her tail with a backbone. Then Nick told me, and I had to shoot her, before pulling out.

Beside the sulky (one furrow, I had only on gang plow (two furrow) so the plowing was a slow job, but when the sons were growing order, and were still at home, so I bought another gang plow, of course used one, and they were helping me so the work progressed faster now. Of course due to rocks, I have more work to do at the blacksmith shop yet, straightening bented shares, frogs and beams.

As you know already of crop failures in this district, from various atmospheric conditions, my brother Eli was disappointed of farming here at Lizard Lake, Saskatoon. Being ordained Baptist minister, he traveled and visited Baptist churches, and being in Hyas, Saskatoon he heard about the bordering Manitoba farming districts in the vicinity of Benito, Durban etc. where many farmers were selling their lands, because they were of advanced age, and their children received higher education, and didn’t want to farm anymore. So brother Eli went his way there and found as it was told to him, that many farmlands were for sale. He acquired there for himself and family two quarter section of land with old buildings and two story house for $5000.00 of course on terms, and in 1938 he moved to Durban, Manitoba with his wife, three sons and four daughters, leaving one married son in his old place at Lizard Lake. Later some of the farmers moved there too.

In the following year of 1939 or 1941? I went by car to Durban, Manitoba with my two older boys and with a farmer friend, to visit my brother with his family and of course to see the farm lands in the district. We investigated and found out that the soil there was black or without rocks or stones, infested with many weeds as at that time there wasn’t chemical weed killers on the market yet. I have seen many farmers at their places and talked to them. Many of them mostly agree, and wanted to sell this land.

As at farming business wasn't profitable and their educated children, did not want to stay on the farms. Asking average price for the quarter section of land was $3000; so price and the soil of land appealed to me, especially that the land was free of stones, but I was indecisive what to do at that time. On coming home I was thinking a lot, weighing in my mind what is the best thing to do. To continue farming here, or dispose of everything and move to Manitoba, to start farming there, by buying land and buying power machinery.

There were two obstacles on the way:

First: If I sell everything here, I won't get much for it, as the land has not much value in our district, and the old horse machinery is worthless too, so if I move out of here, and has to buy everything there, I will get myself financially into a debt.

Second main obstacle: education of my children

As my children had intellectual faculties for the education, and were craving for higher education, so being in debt and further from educational institutions I could not be able to support them. Taking all this into consideration, and being myself with a limited education, and my wife wasn't even a day at school, only at home father taught her to read and write in Russian language. So we-my dear wife and myself-decided for the sake of our children to stay where we were now, and continue to support them in their strive for better education.

As the price for coarse grain was low, so we decided to roll our sleeves higher and get involved in hog production. Though I never like to keep hogs more than one or two. Now for three years, we had about 70 of them, feeding them with chopped grain. As I was not a businessman and by looking at them I could not determine their weight. So at first I made a cage to weigh the hog to until I got some experience.

Whenever hog’s weight reaches 180 lbs. they are taken to markets, and the average price per head comes to 17 or 18 dollars, and the money obtained in this way, is then sent to Saskatoon for board and other expenses of our children. At other times when hogs weren't ready yet, a load or two of wheat was sold and the money was sent for their needs each month. Later when we disposed of our hog business, their support was mainly from the grain. (Two youngest children were in Biggar for their 12^th grade in 1945-46 year)

Now from December 10, 1942 till September 17, 1951 I was gradually acquiring my power machinery during those nine years.

Michael's List of Machinery 1942 to 1951

(See separate machinery list)

First I bought Wallace tractor and power Binder at auction sale on December 10^th, 1942. In 1944 I bought Massey tractor on sale too, nearly new, and also in the same year I bought 8 ½ ft. One Way. As the price for grain in 1944-45 was higher, so I was able to buy some machinery.

In the fall of 1949 I bought 12 ft ???  and John Deere pull type Combine. My nephew had such combine, and I was asking advice from him and he recommended me saying “that it is good and he likes it, but when I started to thresh, I found it differently. Swath is too heavy for this size of combine, and sieves are very short, just like in farming mill. So one has to pull it away very slow on Level land, but when it happens to go uphill, then you lose all the grain as it goes over the top of sieve especially barley. When Alex Elenko saw me combining near his place, he was wondering if I was moving or standing on one place all the time, so I was compelled to buy a bigger combine.

On September 17, 1951 I bought 12 feet self-propelled I. H. C. Combine, giving mine in trade in. As this combine had no stone catcher, so on the first fall of operation, the stone caught into cylinder and the breakage occurred not only in cylinder, but it was torn out of its place in the side frame of machine. Thanks to my nephew Steve Elenko, who was mechanic, so he welded for me. Also I got new cylinder, and also ordered from Brandon Manitoba, Stone Catcher, which I didn't install as it wasn't suitable. I did not install the new cylinder either, as by straightening the old one I left in its place.

Michael's List of Cars 1918 to 1977

As for the stone catcher, I have been examining the convex plate, that is in front of a Cylinder and decided to turn upper side down, and it worked it made a sizable trough for the stones, and after that we had no trouble, but from time to time had to throw out the stones from that trough. Also twice some of the crop in swaths due to early snow, was left for wintering, and was combined in the spring but was badly damaged by mice and also by neighbor’s cattle.

The following years from 1935 to 1946 are the years of higher education for our older children in the city of Saskatoon. The oldest son Alex was attending Bedford Road collegiate for grades XI and XII in the years 1935-36 and 1936-37. Later the mastered knowledge of technology in electronics, and in later years he worked as technician of radio and TV. He went to Ontario in 1942 or 43 in the spring.

Second son Leon in 1940 entered Bedford Road Collegiate for grade XII on completion of grade XII, in 1941 he entered normal school. Due to teacher shortage early in March of 1942 he entered a normal school, where he finished school term. Then he was employed by our neighboring school, but in the fall of same year 1942 he resigned and entered University. In May 1946 completed University with a degree of mechanical engineer, and in July 8, 1946 started to work I. H. C. In Hamilton, Ontario.

The Lucy and Michael Shakotko Family 1946
Reissa, Esther, Watler, Vera
Al, Lucy, Michael, Leon

The older daughter Vera on completion of her grade XI at collegiate, and to Secretarial School and also saving school, which she successfully completed and was working for a while in Saskatoon. Later she left for Toronto, Ontario where she worked as a Private Secretary.

Second daughter completed her grades XI, XII and entered normal school, and on obtaining teacher certificate she teached in many schools across Saskatchewan.

During all these asforesaid years, from 1935 until the fall of 1946 our children has to live in rental rooms with board and sometimes boarding themselves in Saskatoon, in an effort to obtain higher education. Our two youngest children Riessa and Walter completed their grade XII in Biggar in 1945-1946 year, and entered Normal school and University in Saskatoon too.

In 1946 or 1947? Our eldest son Alex came back from Ontario to help us in farming operation. By his initiative and mutual consent we decided to buy house in Saskatoon. He started to look for one, that will be not far from University and Normal school. In September of 1947 we bought two story one in city Park 526-5^th Ave North, for $6000. As I rented two rooms for Reissa and Walter at Haudek’s where Leon previously lived and now having our own house, I moved them into this newly bought house, apologizing to Haudeks about moving out.

They are nice people and whenever I meet with them always have a little chat with them, and they always ask about Leon.

Now as we acquire the house we decided to move ourselves into the city for the winter months. Though not quitting farming yet but we had to dispose of our livestock, so we sold them all, leaving only one or two cows from the in care of neighbors. Later these cows were sold too. The horses in wintertime were roaming the prairie yet, but later were sold for mink meat at 16-17 dollars Per head. It was a pity to part with such faithful Servants, especially home raised ones, but power machinery replaced them and they weren't needed anymore.

Now providing ourselves with meat, dressed chickens, butter and also with wood for kitchen range stove and coal furnace we moved into Saskatoon. The house needed some repairs inside, especially plastering the walls in some broken places, which I was doing myself. Also later decorated with wallpaper. Later I converted coal furnace into oil but it wasn't practical, so still later I bought new furnace for natural gas, and also new water heater and relined chimney also put on a new roof and painted stucko surface.

 Besides our own students, we were providing board and room for other University students for quite a number of years. So we have quite a family to feed, and kept Mother busy in preparing meals, but it helped us financially. Much later kept only roomers, until the fall of 1966. So for 19 years we had lodgers. It helped us to pay expenses but there was much noise that became unbearable for our older age.

Now after spending winter in the city, in the spring of 1948 we left for farm to continue our farming operation. As there was no quota for rye and the price was high, so I bought some rye from Alex Zadenko, elevator man at Straun, at $3.00 per bushel, and seeded that year 65 acres of rye, also 159 acres of wheat and 70 acres of oats. Though the price dropped in fall considerably for rye, one thing was good that I could sell it without quota.

I also bought chickens from one farmer. It was late in the evening and dark in the chicken coop, and they were setting already on their roost, so he picked them up one by one, and I place them in containers, I think it was bags, but he didn't tell me that his chickens were diseased. So gradually one by one they died. So this is the last time I was buying chickens. Afterwords always was buying eggs in store. Mr. Balfour the storekeeper in Cando was always saying to me “What kind of a farmer you are, that you are buying eggs?” Well I am a suitcase farmer, I answered him. Since then always in the spring was buying chicks from the hatchery, and also couple of (piglets) young pigs. So in the fall we will have supply of fresh meat for the coming winter in Saskatoon and also butter.

In this way we were farming for some years; winter in the city and summer on the farm, and the house in the city was vacant, we didn't rent it. Really it wasn't vacant, now and then relatives or acquaintances used it, even without our knowledge, but it was okay with us, the skeleton key, was always there outside the porch in the crack of plaster for their use.

On many occasions whenever I came to see our neighbor Mrs. McMillan was asking me “I wonder who owns this house and who lives in it.” There is always many strange people here. Well it was this way until our city house, became our home, (until now home was at the farm) and we did not go to the farm for whole summer, to stay there, but only for weekdays, and for weak end (for Sundays) always came back to Saskatoon. Also we rented rooms 20 we had roomers all the time now, instead of University students just for a University term.

Reissa completed her teacher course, and now was teaching school in Saskatchewan. Walter completed his four year course of University in electrical engineering, and in 1951 left for Ontario.

We continue to farm from the city, as Suitcase farmer's, as saying says, always going to and fro, with a one ton truck. As in need of money I sold my car in the spring of 1947, and for six years we had no car. In 1950 Alex bought a quarter section of land for himself, so shortly after that I rented him half of each of my three other quarters, leaving for myself the one with the buildings, so it will be equal and the different varieties of grain, will be on both permits, and it was this way, until 1958.

In 1951 I bought from a farmer in Rosthern two truckloads of Malting Barley (my small truck) as I heard that if grain is ripe and plump, you can sell in a year one carload without quota. So in 1951 I had sown 45 acres and in 1952, 165 acres of Barley and it surely helped us considerably, as each of us could sell a carload of Barley, without quota, otherwise you can sell much on quota.

In the fall of 1957 I sold my three quarters of land to son Alex for $9000 without interest, with payments of $1000 each year possession of first of January 1958. I left for myself yet one quarter that across the road to the east, containing 95 acres of aruable land. As I had grain on land from the land I sold, I have to apply for special permits each year, until I sold it.

We continue to go to the farm until 1966-67 for shorter periods and not so frequently. This is the last year I had a permit to sell grain, as I rented my quarter of land to Alex for couple years, and then in June of 1969 I sold him my last parcel of land for $6000 cash.

1965 Michael and Lucy Shakotko

In the fall of 1966 we sold our house on 5^th Avenue for $12,000 cash, and bought nearly new one more suitable for us at 803 McMillan Ave. for $15,300. I still had to go to the farm in 1967 to sell my remaining grain on my last permit, and these were the last days of our farming, though tired, but we retired from farm work now. Settle down in our cozy home, to our deserved rest and more peaceful life.

Bumper Crop and a Full House 1930 - Part 11

A bumper crop

The year 1930 God in his mercy gave abundant year for me, replenishing the years of the past. In that year I had 4520 bushels of wheat and 5864 bushels of oats. Threshing bill was at .9 cents for wheat and .5 cents for oats. I paid to my brothers $700.00 dollars. Though the price for the grain at that time was low but I managed to pay my debts, and yet saved some money, depositing in bank for them to start to build a house in near future, so much needed for my growing family.

Speaking of a family and a house herewith I want to say that towards the end of 1928, we had six children and us two, and mother (that lived 10 years with us). So that makes nine souls. To make it more crowded, father in law with his son, came from California and lived with us through winter of 1928-1929. Now you can imagine how crowded it was in our log house 16 x 22 ft. consisting of two rooms, kitchen and bedroom, attached porch was just for wind protection. So bigger house was badly needed quite a while ago, but as you know already, what befell us those years. So I couldn't afford at that time to build one.

Al, Vera, Reissa, Esther and Fanny the Horse - 193?

Seeing how everybody gets their hands into mothers saving fund for their needs as: paying first installment on buying quarter section of land or to pay threshing bill and for many other needs, so I decided to ask my brothers, to discuss the possibility of building a small cottage for mother while she has some money yet. Of course in due time they had a meeting of which I was not aware, nor invited. Later I received a letter from them informing me of the result of their deliberation.

Contents of it as follow:

“Where the window in your bedroom facing west, so if you cut the door there and build the house for mother; as for yourself, there will be enough of one window for you.”

This answer and a suggestion by letter, reached me, as though myself and my family have no right to have more light or fresh air through more windows than one. Later one of brother's wives present at that meeting informed me that they were afraid that in the event of mother's death, that cottage will remain mine. What a groundless fear! If I was invited or consulted, I could assure them or give them a signed document that they may have it.

After bumper crop in 1930, the following years became leaner and leaner. In 1931, I threshed only 1959 bushels of wheat and 3361 bushels of oats. Paid threshing bill (.6 cents –wheat .3 cents- oats) $218.37 for 1932 I rented from Cecil Smith his land that sided my land to the south, rented for 12 years bought in 1944.

Building a house in 1932

Also decided to build house in that year, so I hired a man for this summer by the name Mitro Grigoruk. He started to work 25^th of April. After seeding my own land and rented he started to dig basement, and hauling gravel. Also I found one Ukrainian man by the name Jimko Gritsan, who was building house for one Englishman near Biggar. He consented to do the job of building a house for me at $300.00

Also I have reached agreement with the lumber yard man at Cando, that he will allow discount of 1/3^rd of the price of lumber, provided I will be paying cash in a month’s time. So the work started on our new two story house; dimension 24 x 28 ft. with front Verandah and back porch. Needless to say, that this was the busiest summer for me, hauling cement, lumber and everything else needed for the house as hauling sawdust and attend and oversee the progress of construction; helping and giving advice to the carpenter, as he wasn't much experienced yet himself.

Here is the example: When I drove to Cando for lumber, and returned and inspected the stairs for  upstairs he made and installed already, I found out, that steps wasn't evenly proportioned, the top was only about half of the height of others. So I told him about it, he said, that he started to do it just as the width of the boards were, but didn't proportioned the steps evenly, he thought it will come up alright, but it did not so she said I will tear it down and make a new one. But as I had to go again to Cando for stairs lumber, I consented to leave it as it is. Later I found out that it should be rebuilt as that step was a stumbling one, and one has to fall.

If it was at the bottom, it could be not so bad yet. There were many more wonders in the construction of the house, but I am not going into details of everything now. One thing that I tried to build a warm house and sure enough it was: for three years I had neither furnace nor heater, except the cook stove, and it was comfortably warm. To the end of the fall 1932 the house was completely finished and painted. Besides digging basement and hauling gravel and lumber, and everything else that was needed for the house or better to say: without my own work; all the material and carpenter came to the exact amount of $1850.00 Also I paid to hired man for that summer $142.15. I hired him for 4 months at $22.50 a month that's $90.00. Stoocking sheaves at 150 = 1765 and he earned on threshing machine (except my horses) $34.50 that comes to $142.15, but really I paid him only $107.65, as he earned $34.50.

As by agreement had to pay cash for the material for the house, and I have saved from 1930 only $1300. So I have to borrow from Pool elevator agent. A Danish man by the name of Axel Peterson, who was a good friend of mine and trusted me, as I have told him when I will be hauling grain, I will repay you. In 1932 after threshing I had on my own land 2300 bushels of wheat and 644 bushels of oats and on Smith's rented land 501 bushels of wheat and 1925 bushels of oats. So gradually by selling the grain I paid my debt to him, and this had the house free of debts.

Going for a cranberry picking

Now I want to relate a not very pleasant incident that happened that fall of 1932.

Usually every year we go to pick wild berries in the forest or even to the north of Saskatoon River, such as: Saskatoon berries, raspberries, pink cherries, choke cherries and cranberries. This year we had no time to go as were busy but later after the work was finished, the hired man offered us his services, to take us to a place in a bush, where he knew from previous year, there is lot of cranberry bushes: and as cranberries better berries so it was right time to pick them.

Well we accepted his offer to lead us to that place. Prepared our lunch and packed some containers or utensils for the berries. I cranked my old faithful 1918 touring Ford and off we drove four of us; myself and hired man Mitro in front seat, and my wife and our eldest 12-year-old son Alex, at the rear seat. Mitro also took his wife and kept it between his legs, barrel of the rifle was upward. On our way, I told him: if the rifle is loaded, so you better unload it, he replied that he had safety lock, and it is locked.

So we proceeded to Red Pheasant Indian reserve, and through their village and farther in North West direction. All at once in front of our trail appeared a deer, Mitro grabbed his rifle in haste, and it discharged. My hands felt the heat of discharged bullet which went through the body of a car. It could be a certain mutilation or even death, but only by the grace of God we were spared. I reminded him that, I asked him to unload the barrel, and he disobeyed me, trusting on the “safety lock.” Later he was repeating as to himself: “I nearly killed a man.” so scared he was.

Michael and Lucy in Front Seat - (Leon in her arms?)
(Michael's mother in rear seat with Al)
Model A Ford in 1922

However despite this incident we continued our journey by grass grown old Indian trail with deep ruts. We hardly made mile or two when we were involved with an accident. We hit the rock, and the oil pan plug underneath the car, was completely torn off its place, and the car oil poured out to the ground. What now? As farmers usually carry with them pocket knives, so I had one too, I cut a piece of Willow tree and made a plug for a rag around it, and hammered it into the hole of oil pan. Now as my habit was always to have spare quarter of oil, so I emptied it into motor but as it wasn't enough, I decided to return to Indian village, to procure more oil. The village was nearly deserted; hardly found one olderman, and bought from him machine oil, and filled my car with it.

Though we had already draw backs standing on our way, we decided to pursue our goal, getting some cranberries. Off we drove again, but it was all in vain, our hired man Mitro did not find the place, though we were all over and near Battleford already, and thus with empty hands and unlucky adventures, exhausted and tired he returned home.

My Ford car with a Willow oil plug, served us for a few years more than I sold only motor (or engine) of this car to one farmer, who used it for cutting wood or grinding grain and from Chassis made a trailer. In 1936 I bought old used whippet for $290.00, put in new piston rings, but it did not help, was using lots of oil. In 1930 trade it for V8 sedan.

Shakotko Family in 1937 with Whippet
Michael, Lucy, Vera, Esther, Al, Reissa, Walter, Cousin Ann Skondin, Leon.

When our crops were often destroyed by early frosts, farmers always thought, that due to rainy periods which delayed the ripening of crops, that's why it freezes, but if drier season comes it will be better. Sure enough dryer periods did come. In 1931 and 1932 it did not freeze, but we had less and less yield. In 1933 we had a real drought. The crops were so short and sparse that there was no way to gather it. I made attachment to the mower to try to pick up some crop, but it wasn't practical. So I disconnected from under that part of it that binds the sheaves, and made a box with slant bottom and door on outer side and attached to binder, and made overhanging handle, that I could reach from my seat on the binder. So whenever box will be filled with loose stuff, I could dump it on the ground.

It was a deplorable job of gathering our crop, but we had to do it, to get something of it. Well I had 200 acres of wheat, and I threshed from these loose piles 500 bushels that comes to 2 ½ Bushels per acre. For threshing this crop, I paid $100.00 to George Elenko who threshed this crop for me. The result of the drought had its effect not only on people, but cattle also as there were no food for them either, and the farmers had to sell some of their cattle.

There were rumors that government is going to buy, to help farmers, so we thought it will pay reasonable price. When I drove a heard of ten head of cattle (steers and cows) on horseback to Cando, (a hamlet 10 miles from my place) there were Jews buyers, who just wanted to profit themselves from the farmers disaster.

They paid me $90.00 for my head of ten, that's nine dollars a head. Many farmers were on relief, getting through municipality necessity for their existence, even clothing as overalls and jackets. I decided to stay off the relief and somehow to pull it through. Only I was given one box of apples from the carload of apples that was donated by fruit growers in Ontario and arrived to our Cando.

My wife being a mother of six children foresaw the hardships we should face or live through; and in conversation with my sister Mrs. Elenko, told her that she will learn to spin the yarn. So she could knit mitts and socks for children. Sister told her that it is hard for older people to learn; that only when they are learning from the childhood days, that they can spin. She replied to her “If there is a will there is a way, and I will try.”

One day she told me to make her a spinning wheel. That by spinning wool she could help me to clothe our children. So I started to build one from the scraps of wood and pieces of iron. The wheel was made from boards of Apple box; where thread was needed on wood. I carved it with knife, and on iron spindle left hand thread was made by three corner file, and so on, until spinning wheel was ready. Though it wasn't painted or polished, it came out as a surprise to ourselves, it was light in weight and easy to operate, and she really liked it very much.

Now from my cousin, Mrs. Stesenko, we got once sheep wool, and she started to learn to spin, and soon she succeeded and mastered the art of spinning. While we all are asleep yet, she rises soon after midnight, and if I happen to awake, I can hear the noise of a spinning wheel, in a dining room or kitchen; hur, hur, hur. I don't know how she managed to do it, without so much needed rest at night, after each day's work, but she did it, sacrificing herself for the sake of her children.

Well there was enough spin and double twisted wool yarn now which she knitted into scarves, mitts and socks. The children were more warmly dressed now, especially in winter, to go to school and church. Also though my wife was not a tailoress but the life’s need, will teach you everything. Not only now, but previously while children were smaller yet, she was making suits and dresses for them. We were ordering material from Army and maybe at Regina such as Donegal tweed 54 inches wide (forgot the price) and colored cotton pants at .10 cents a yard or .95 cents for 10 yards. So from Donegal tweed she made suits for the boys, and from colored cotton dresses for the girls, trimming them with other colors, and it looks nice, except that it was from plain material. As the children were growing and started to go to school, they needed better clothing. So one day mother with girls, made an order of the most needed things, and it came to $32.00, but I had not that much money at the time, and told them to decrease the order things to very essential ones.

Vera, Esther, Reissa, Walter and Leon Shakotko - 1935

Now writing about those lean years and remembering with tears in the eyes, and with gratitude in the heart to the Lord for his guidance throughout our life, that he did not leave us nor forsake us, and in the person of my wife gave me a virtuous woman, like the one mentioned in the 31st chapter of Solomon Proverbs. So with her willingness and help and our mutual efforts, we succeeded in pulling through those lean years without any kind of relief from the municipality or government.

1934 was a better year for the crop, and I threshed 2162 bushels of wheat and 4204 bushel of oats on my own land and 1725 bushels of wheat and 605 bushels of oats on rented land. Paid for threshing $364.44 only thing that the prices for grain was very low .7cents per bushel of oats at so I was selling some to Eagle Creek farmers for .15 cents a bushel. Then I loaded a railway car about 1800 or 2000 bushels, right from the platform. That means hard manual work, as we had no loaders at that time, and as the loading time was only three days so I had to hire more horse teams for hauling $3.00 per load to do the job on time.

Well I did load that car full of oats and shipped it without taking any advance money on it, as other farmers did and as the price was low, so farmers try to keep it longer, maybe the price will rise couple of cents, taking a gamble as the price didn't advance any. So the company informed farmers sent carloads, to send money if they want to keep it longer, otherwise they are compelled to sell it. Of course nobody will do such thing as sending them money. So their grain was sold, and they were lucky yet to have that $75 or $100 they took on advance.

Later the company informed me to send the money, if I want to keep it longer, as I did not send the money, so they sold the car load of oats, and sent me a statement of sale and $9.00 (nine dollars) for the whole car load of oats. As the price was low, so freight and demurrage consumed it.

It won't be superfluous to mention at the same time about the barley. In previous years, can't remember exactly what years, I had some barley which was threshed into an open bin (without roof) and as that year there was no price at all at elevators, (as freight was higher than price at terminal) so rather then it will spoil from snow and rain, I gave to Straun and Perdue farmers, saying whenever you will be able, later to pay something or the price that it will be at that time. So in a year or two one farmer sent me $3.00 three dollars, for others it was just donation. Also for other farmers I was owing or selling on time oats for seed and feed, which never was repaid as I am the type of man lacking collector’s qualities.

In 1935 I had sown 175 acres of wheat and 100 acres of oats. Paid threshing bill to Ackimenno’s $261.25 as their charges were 95 cents per acre. (Not per bushel this time) I threshed this year on my land 1300 bushels of wheat and 1742 bushels of oats and on rented land 1391 bushels of wheat and 670 bushels of oats.

1936 was still poor year, Ackimenno threshed this time at .7 cents per bushel and I had of my own wheat 947 bushels, and 724 bushels on rented land. Paid threshing bill to Ackimenno’s $116.97 and I had 500 bushels of oats, threshed for me by George Elenko as .4 cents a bushel. So I paid him $20.00 total bill $136.97

1937 was a lean year again, due to drought and weeds, especially pig weed on the summer fallowed land. George Elenko threshed this time, for his machine and himself he charged $3.00 per hour, the teams and work men were mine. So I paid him for 12 ½  hours of work $38.25 and on rented land from Mr. Smith I had 30 or 40 acres of wheat on the summer fallow, so there were practically no wheat just continuous pig weed. So I didn't know what to do with it, but as amongst weeds, here and there are wheat stems. So I decided to cut in piles and hauled it into a hay stack.

Shakotko’s threshed haystack for $11.00, and it yielded only 60 bushels, from which I had to give share yet to a landlord. How much unnecessary and unprofitable hard work has been put into it. I had be better off if I had burned it on the root. It is not only myself, but my children as well Alex and Leon especially son Alex, who done mowing it, and then helping to haul it, and it was a hard job to throw on the rack, as the weeds sticks to one another, and by fork you can't take as much as you able to throw but the whole pile is coming along. So it really was hard unprofitable work.

Speaking of burning the crop I want to relate, that some years we had to burn the stubble, and I think it was the year mentioned above, (or maybe previous year) with son Alex we started to burn the stubble on rented land. The wind was favorable when we started the fire, but gradually increased its velocity, and changed its course, and the result was! the old stockpile was on fire and standing by straw pile granary full of oats was consumed by fire too. And one other year nearly was to have been similar tragedy. When Shakotko’s brothers were threshing at my place with a steam outfit, and they had no screen on engine smokestack, to prevent all flying out the sparks.

Water, Vera, a friend, Esther, Leon, Reissa with Dog POP - 1938

I was in the roofless bin, which was nearly full of oats, leveling it with a shovel. Suddenly I noticed the fire between granary and on the side of a straw pile. I shouted with all my might “fire! Fire!” and jumped from bin to the scene of fire. I thought the threshers will hear me and will come to extinguish the fire, but they didn't see nor heard me and continued to thresh. The falling straw from blower worsened my long battle with fire. I thought that I can't cope with it myself anymore, but at last with all my great efforts I did put it out, though breathless and exhausted I was after that.

In 1938 in 1939 threshing was done by Shakotko’s brothers. Their bill amounted to $344.00 and $459.79 in those two years. I had in 1938 on my own land 2433 bushels of wheat and 1589 bushels of oats, and on rented land 1026 bushels of wheat and 656 bushels of oats.

Michael Shakotko binding the wheat - 1938

In 1939, 3633 bushels of wheat and 2668 bushels of oats and on rented land 1012 bushels of wheat and 1179 bushels of oats. These years the yield was better, but as usual the price of grain was low, and especially in the fall when farmers has to sell, to pay threshing bill and other debts.

Michael Shakotko Stooking the Sheafs - 1938

I can't recollect now, what need I had but I had to borrow the money. So from Mr. Axel Peterson Pool Elevator agent, on September 11^th, 1939, I borrowed from him $400. Repaid with interest $406.50 also on October 2, 1939 borrowed from Mike Kulesh $500.00 at 6% interest. On November 27 paid him $106.00 and for the rest signed a promissory note for $400 until May 27^th, 1940 on this note $420.00

In 1940 threshing was done by Ackimenno’s and threshing bill amounted to $318.00 I have 2402 bushels of wheat and 1365 bushels of oats on my own land, and on rented 1213 bushels of wheat and 1005 bushels for oats. Recorded in myself that I was telling oats for my landlord 17 cents a bushel, and the wheat was around 50 cents a bushel. This year was introduced by the Canadian Wheat Board a quota for selling the grain. My first permit for a 1940-1941 was under No. 134022

1941 was poorer year. Threshed only 1083 bushels of wheat and 328 of oats, and on rented land 326 bushels of wheat. Threshers Ackimenno’s were selling wheat for 49 cents a bushel. In 1942 I had 207 acres of wheat and 60 acres of oats and though it had been touched by frost and graded No. 5, but yielded good. Ackimenno’s just started to thresh, and here comes the snow and early winter. So the crop was threshed in the spring of 1943. I thrashed 5086 bushels of wheat on my land and on rented 824 bushels of wheat and 3165 of oats. This is the second largest threshing bill I paid (first in 1930) amounting to $646.15 The price for grain, started to rise, at $.76 a bushel and oats 25-31 cents per bushel, but due to quota, farmers can't sell much grain.

1942-43 winter due to unthreshed crops, caused me a lot of extra hard work. Keeping the cattle enclosed, and hauling straw from the snow drifted piles from the neighboring farmers. In 1943 I hadn't much crop, as Spring threshing prolonged and I had no time to prepare the land. I have no record what I had on my land but on rented I had 240 bushels of wheat and 185 bushels of barley on 27 acres, that comes to 7 bushels per acre. So it seems the crop was poor.

 This is the last record that was recorded by me as to amount of grain each year because I have to give crop share to landlord. In 1944 I bought from Cecil Smith that quarter of land which I was renting and I kept no more records in my book. Though I had to record at that time, but they are not available now, and from the quota books, you can't know how much you had each year, (except the acres that has been sown.) As by quota you can't sell much crop in one year.

Since grain quota was introduced, it is still in force up to this day, I am writing this memoirs. As there were the years of World War II, so rationing was introduced by government, and the ration books were issued with coupons in it for edible produce. Also gasoline was rationed, and even new agricultural machinery was not obtainable. Only farmers who farmed on a large scale was able to buy in their need. I bought a horse drawn small garden cultivator at $1850 and have to fill a form of several questions.

Looking back at unproductive years, one may wonder how we survived. Well at first when we settled in this district of Lizard Lake, we had to depend on wildlife; rabbits, prairie chicken and wild ducks. To buy other necessities, we had to chop thickets and firewood in the bush and all it to town (Biggar) to sell it and buy a bag of flour, sugar etc. Later we had our own poultry and cows, that makes meat and eggs and milk. We didn't have much vegetables, as even potatoes freezes sometimes, and the size of a nuts only. But we had cabbage as to cucumbers we had them only in later years. So we had something to eat, only didn't have enough money to buy other commodities. Whenever there was a crop, that wheat wasn't frozen, the first load is taken to flour mill, so we could have supply of flour for the whole year; otherwise if it is not done so, later you may have no money to buy a bag of flour. Since I was married and we moved to our own abode, my good wife always had full yard of chickens and later, ducks, geese and turkey so we weren't starving.

As the children were growing and continued their schooling at public school, the girls especially the older one Vera wanted to learn to play organ or piano, but we had neither one of them. Well I started to look for one, and bought a secondhand organ for $25, and so it was small but it was good, and daughter liked it. So she started to take music lessons, first from the wife of municipal secretary Mrs. Shaw later at Cando, from Mrs. McDonald wife of elevator man.

Many times in winter on a load of grain I was taking her there a distance of 12 miles for one hour lesson. In payment we were giving her a dressed chicken. While the oration ?avering about chickens so I want to relate to incident about them….

1920's - Prarie Life Challenges - Part 10

Epidemic of the Spanish flu

After bindering or harvesting the crop, and stocking the sheaves, soon approached the threshing time. At first it was full gang of workers and everything was going well, and then one by one started to leave work and going home. I remember as we were threshing at brother Paul's place, one Russian German worker said “I have no strength to work” (insert Russian text pg.104) and went home. When threshing machine came to my place there were only a few teams left at work, and though it took longer time but managed to finish my crop.

At first we didn't know what was the matter, but afterwards when nearly everybody got sick, and doctors proclaimed that it was epidemic of Spanish flu, which afterward claimed many lives that autumn, and some of our relatives. At the time when we were both sick, came to us brother of my wife to inform us, another brother's wife's death. He did not even enter our house to avoid the contact, but later he also took sick and passed away. Also my brother Paul's wife passed away to. So the beginning of 1918 was bright and happy for us, followed with grievous consequences.

Brought in Weeds

As our land was newly broken, so we had no weeds yet, but immediate following years, brought us weeds disaster. As our crops in the district were often damaged by frost, not only wheat but oats too, so my brothers got a car load of pixty day oats (supposed to be early variety from one farmer at Hyas, Saskatoon and on behalf of the owner was selling to farmers for seeding their land, and also seeded themselves.

 I also bought this variety oats (being of very small kernels) and seeded on one parcel of land. Afterwards this portion of land was full of weeds, all kinds of yellow mustard, and French weed, or stink weed as it is called, because if cows will be pasteurized on this field, you won't be able to drink milk. So later from this parcel of land, the weeds spread to the whole farm, and also in later years we had all kinds of weeds; different thistles and wild oats etc.

Built another elevator in Cando

As we had only one elevator in our hamlet of Cando, (10 miles west of our place) so there was no competition and our grain was graded always lower than it should be, so it seemed to us there should be another elevator.

So there appeared some kind of agents with a Russian translator, traveling from farmer to farmer, promising to build a farmers elevator, and was eliciting money of one hundred dollars per share, so my father also took one share for $100.00 they did collect money, and really build an elevator, with the name of “Farmers club “but there was no easement for farmers, same poor grading and same shortage in weighing the grain.

Later this elevator was sold to Saskatoon Pool, and this was the end of Farmers club elevator and caput of their shares.

Bought a log house from brother Paul

My brother Paul made a deal with brothers Ivan and Eli, in obtaining their shares of land in section 17^th , so he built a house there and moved to live there, leaving his house vacant on his preemption (second homestead). So early in 1920 I bought his log house (16 x 22) for $125.00, and lowered to the ground, then dismantled walls, log by log, marking them and then transported the whole floor by the sleigh, and all the rest of the house to my bought quarter, northeast of section 18^th which afterwards was our permanent residence for many years.

Now I had to put it together again; first the floor was placed on the spot, where I wanted the house to be, and then walls were erected, placing marking logs one by one with moss or hay between ceiling 2x6 or 2x8 boards and some ????? from logs, were placed in its notched places, and then four parts of roof were drawn up one by one, and raised and nailed in its place. As I have dismantled chimney too, so now I had to rebuild it, and though I never done it before, always was willing to try.

So I scraped all the old clay from bricks and started to lay them one by one binding them with clay mixture, and though there were many half bricks, the chimney came out wonderfully well, because it served us for 10 years without any trouble. Next came the plastering, but before doing it, I nailed it diagonally inside and willow twigs outside. Then I was preparing clay mixture and my wife, mother and aunty Mrs. Zadko, who came to help us were plastering walls. After it was dry it was whitewashed on ceiling and thus ready for occupancy. Also nailed beaver board on ceiling.

Log chicken coop built

In wintertime as usual in all ventures previous and following alternatively either was hauling grain to Cando, or hauling firewood and logs for building. The same year with fathers help on my quarter was built a log chicken coop, roofed with shingles, which in spare time I was doing, and even brother Ivan when he visited us, climbed to the roof and help me to nail shingles. Though he was a Gospel minister, he always was willing to help manually to anybody in need.

Passing of our father

In 1921 father started to be indisposed and became ill and on June 2^nd, 1922 passed away, and was laid to rest on June 4^th at the cemetery plot on his own land.

Moving to our own place

Since our marriage we lived with parents 4 years and two months, but after seeding the land and father's funeral, the parents place was rented to Mr. Terentq Borisenka and we moved to our own place, taking mother with us in summer of 1922. Needless to say, there were lots of things to do, and lot of work to make this place suitable for habitation. First I dismantled and moved that big barn willed to me by father, and then had to erect again. Thanks to Mike Kulesh, when he was passing by, he saw me toiling hard, erecting it so he stopped and helped me to roll the logs in its place in the walls. As I took the roof apart, so had to be built in anew, nailing the boards to poplar rafters with a longer nails now, so the storm would not tore it away again. As the spot was low, so I had to raise it, first with stones and then with ground hauling my scraper. I placed the barn level in front with the chicken coop, so between buildings I made a garage yet. Luckily I made the fence around the pasture land before, so now I had where to put my cattle and horses.

Digging well

As we had no well yet, so late in the fall I hired Mr. Ignat Lewchenko, to dig one. He came one day with a boy helper, when I was away in Cando, and started to look for water with his magic willow, and found it as he said, exactly few feet in front of the building where the garage between barn and chicken coop and wanted to dig there, but my wife said “you better wait until my husband comes home.” When I came home, he told me and showed me the spot where the water is. I said to him that spot is not suitable for well to near to barn buildings, and showed him the spot where I wanted the well to be. Well he tried again his magic willow on the spot shown by me, and said there is water here too, but one spot pulls better so the water is shallower.

So he started to dig where I had shown him. Digging was done by hand, was 1 square hole 3 x 3 ft. and after a depth of 24 feet struck the water vein. The cribbing was made of 2 x 12 boards. So the good Lord blessed us with good and plenteous water, twelve feet of it never exhaustible. Later I bought and installed 4 inch wooden pump, made a shed and a water trough from big wheel of steam engine, cementing the ground at the bottom of the wheel.

Gradually we begin establishing ourselves in a new place of our own. In winter, besides fuel wood and willow pickets also was hauling logs and build a log granary. Also attached 8 x 16 porch to the house, so there will be protection from the wind. In 1925 not have much sown crop, just on this quarter where the house is; the east quarter of section 17, was all in summer fallow (95 acres)

In 1926 bought South East quarter of 19-39-14 from C.P.R. Co. on terms for 10 years, for $900.00 last payment for it in 1936. Got will in January 1937. This quarter consisted of only 127 acres, the most arable land I could make, only 50 acres the rest is pasture, for which I had to build barb wired fence.

After Mr. Lewchenko dug my well, my brother Paul hired him to take well for him too. Again he used his magic willow and said “here is water, it pulls hard so it shall be shallow water.” He started to dig, and dug 100 feet deep and the well was dry, then he admitted he didn't believe in that magic willow himself, but said that he thought that as water was shallow at my place, it will be shallow here too, as the place was lower yet than mine. Oh yeah speaking of my brothers dry well, somebody of them somehow dropped a big monkey wrench into that well, and nobody of a big family dared to go down the well of 100 feet to get it out.

One day when my four year old son Alex went to their place, they persuaded him to go down into that well to get that wrench. So they lowered him there by the ropes, but maybe on the half way, he got scared, so they pulled him out, and the wrench is still there to this present day.

Three years in a row of frozen crop

In 1926 standing crops were looking good and promised a good harvest, but the frost came so early as never before; usually it comes from 16^th-21^st of August but this mentioned year, it was on the night of 8^th of August, while the crops were in stage of filling up yet. The result? of course frozen crop. I went through the crops to inspect, and tried the kernels to squeeze them, and out of them comes a little speck of water, as assurance that it is frozen.

Well my heart felt the pinch of it all, but as we were used to it, so it was easier to take and hoping for better years to come. One Arelee farmer at that time travelled through our district and saw the frozen wheat, he said “if it was my crop frozen, I would go into the crop and shoot myself.” Well without hope, man is desperate, and this man for some unknown reason later hanged himself.

Can't recollect if that year's crop was bindered, harvested and stocked, and then burned, or burned on the stand, but it all went with a smoke, not a bushel of grain a year. Now for next year I have to buy my seed grain, and I decided to buy some barley and try my luck with it. Had to borrow money from one wealthier private man at 8% interest. So I bought barley someplace at Luningingdale and my seed wheat at D. Ackimenko, and obtained some bushels recently developed new variety wheat, supposed to be earlier maturing by the name “Garnet”

In the spring of 1927 I seeded  30 acres of barley, 18 acres of Garnet wheat, and the rest of my land with the commonly used wheat at that time namely Marquise. As usual all props were growing beautifully and again our hope was rewarded; maybe this year we will have a bountiful crop, maybe the frost will bypass us this year. But our hope was in vain. Same as previous year, the frost visited us exactly the same date, on the night of August 8^th and the result again frozen crop.

As the straw of Garnet wheat was green, so I cut it with mower, I thought it will be good feed for cattle, the other wheat I harvested with binder, but maybe there will be something yet and stooked it, but when it dried, there were only shrinked skin of a kernel, not fit for threshing. So I hauled that sheaves to the yard behind barn and stacked them to use as feed for cattle. The Garnet wheat that was mowed with a mower was consumed by fire. My 30 acres of barley was also frozen. It was a heavy crop for the straw, and I had to plow it down for fertilizing the land.

For 1928 again had to borrow money this time from the bank, signing a promissory note for $200.00 and again as each spring, had to put in my seed grain into the soil, expecting maybe this year they will be a better crop. That year I sowed my barley earlier than wheat, thinking: if wheat will be freeze again maybe I will have barley untouched by frost. Indeed I had some barley, but not very much, as it was very sparse and malt due to dry spell early in the spring.

Of course every year I sow oats, even if it's frozen and like chaff, but it is feed for horses. Concerning the wheat, the frost came on 16^th of August. So it was badly frozen again, but I threshed it, and had about 1200 bushels but it was utility grade known as feed wheat. So I sold it to the cattlemen for feed at .25 cents a bag. As I had rented some land, not very much arable land of my own in that year 1928 I rented (or leased?) on a share basis for Mortgage Co. quarter section of land 1 mile west, the one that S. Evadokimenko took at the homestead, but then abandoned, due to too much rocks, but later it was taken and there was about 55 acres broken but it turned into prairies again.

Once I seeded some acres of barley, but can't recollect if it was previous years or later. But that year there was no price for barley at elevator as the freight was higher than price for barley. And as I had in log bin without roof, I could not keep it due to rain, so I disposed of it to Arelee farmers one time, saying, when you will be able, so you will pay me what the price will be. So one farmer after lengthy period sent me 3 dollars, to others it was just a donation.

So that summer I had a tough time to cultivate that portion of land. I hired Nick Lupish to do the plowing and myself was busy daily at the blacksmith shop, sharpening and straightening plow shears. Due to strong soil, even Nick couldn't sit on the gang plow, was walking either behind or on the side of a plow. Though with a hard labor, soil was prepared for next year's crop. Stones were removed which was on the surface. In 1929 besides my own land, I seeded wheat on this prepared summer fallow, and packed with a land Packer, so all the left over small stones, were packed back into soil and the field was level and beautiful to look.

As always on the summer fallow due to rich soil crop grows big and tall and stays longer green, than the other fields. So it was with this field, it was thick and 4 ½ ft. high. When I harvested with a binder, I had to raise binder as high as it could go. So the stuffle was nearly knee high, and the sheaves hardly fitted into the binder. Due to high stubble and yet long sheaves it was hard to stook them, but Nick Lupish, who I always was hiring when I needed help was an agile lad, and always was doing job the best he could: so in this case he’d done the job well. For his capability I always was paying him more than regular wages.

“By the way, here I want to insert an incident in later years, when I hired two men for stooking sheaves. Besides their regular clothes they had underwear and pants, on top they donned overalls and jackets, then ripped two heavy bags I had from which sometimes I was making horse blankets, and made them into aprons and tied them around themselves, and went to stock. At night wind came in all the stocks were blown down.

The other day at breakfast, speaking of wages, they were curious to know, why I always pay more to Nick Lupish. Well without answering, I took them outside, and showed them their job of yesterday, then I told them “look, your job needs redoing again, which will cost me twice the price but when Nick Lupish does this job, not even one sheaf falls from the stoocks. That's why I pay him more, because he knows how to do the job well, and in reality it costs me less. Continuing again about the crop on rented land in 1929, it was threshed and yielded 30 bushels per acre, or exactly 1696 bushels. By the looks due to stand, it should yield more but as usual it was frozen, but not too bad. It was graded No. 4

After delivering their shared crop to company, I sold my share of crop, at .49 cents a bushel. As I rented for three years, I had one more year yet, but there was a buyer and the company wanted to sell, so when I just started to work on this land in the spring of 1930, the company sent me 50 dollars, and asked me to release them of the contract, and give them permission to sell. As the buyers was immigrant and his wife and son were members of our church Mr. Philipchuk so I consented just on behalf of this family, though I had the right to seed it another year, and the field was ready, just to burn the stubble and seed it, but I was merciful to others. Of course I had crop on my own land in 1929 but I have no record and can't recollect how much and how good, but I think it was not too bad.